Administratrix of



(No Model.)

A. WYDMAN, Dec'd. H. E. WYDMAN, Administratrix.

HARP.

No. 562,447. Patented June 23, 1896.

z'dnesse k M. PHOTOUTNO WAS i HNGmNJl C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HANNAH E. IVYDMAN, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, ADMINISTRATRIX OF AUGUSTIVYDMAN, DECEASED.

HARP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 562,447, dated June 23,1896.

Application filed March 6, 1896.

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that Auoosr WYDMAN, deceased, late a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Rockford, in the county of innebago and State ofIllinois, did in his lifetime invent new and useful Improvements inHarps, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to form a connection between thesharping and flatting forks and the treadle in a single or double actionharp, and the further object is to form a swell for a harp composed oftwo pivoted sections.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a harp, partlyin section, showin g the improvements. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectionnear the base, showing the arrangement of the swell. Fig. 3 is anenlarged transverse section showing the swell. Fig. 4is an isometricalrepresentation of the mechanism for operating the sharpin g and flattingforks. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of one of the plates andthe roller connection with the arm connected with the forks.

The harp in the main is of the usual construction, consisting of thehead 1, soundingboard 2, base 3, and column a. The head 1 is providedwith forks 5 for sharping and ilatting the strings, and in the drawingsthe improvement is shown as operating upon one string of each octave. Inthe head of the harp is formed a recess of sufficient size toaccommodate the operative parts, and to one wall is secured a plate 6,provided with lengthwise projections 7. A series of plates 8, and in themake-up of a harp seven being employed, have two lengthwise grooves 9and 10 and two cam-shaped grooves 11 and 12. These plates are located inthe grooves formed by the lengthwise projections 7, and pins 13, passingthrough the lengthwise slots 9 and 10, serve to guide the plates in thedirection of their length. To the lower end of each of the plates isconnected a rod le which extends downward through the column and isconnected to a pedal in the usual manner. A spring 15 is secured at oneend to the head, its free end having a connection with one of Serial No.582,151. (No model.)

the plates. connection.

Each of the sharping and flatting forks 5 has a shaft 16, supported bythe head of the harp, and each shaft has an arm 17 extending therefrom.The arms of the fiatting-forks are connected by rods 18, and the arms ofthe sharping-forks by rods 19, and as either set of rods are moved allstrings controlled by that set will be operated upon in unison.

Each of the series of rods has a connection with the verticallyslidin gplates 8. The rods 18 have such a connection through ahorizontally-sliding bar 20, which has a pivotal con nection at one endwith the first fork, and its other end made in two arms which receivethe plate and support a roller 21, (shown at Fig. 5,) which is locatedin the cam-shaped groove 11. This bar has a lengthwise opening 22, and apin 23 passes through the openin g and is held by the head of the harp.The other bars of the upper series are of the same construction andsupported upon the pins 23.

A bar 24, of the same construction as the bars of the upper series, hasan elongated opening 25, through which a pin 26 passes. The roller ofthis bar is located in the cam shaped groove 12. The other bars of thislower series are supported by the pin 26, as shown at Fig. 4.

hen the parts are in the position as shown at Fig. 1, the strings are attheir greatest length and are consequently flatted. In mow ing the platedownward the bar will move inward until the vertical portion of thegroove is reached. This movement will cause the upper row of forks toturn so as to engage the strings, thereby shortening their length andconsequently placing them in their natural condition. During thismovement of the plate the lower bar 21 has remained stationary, itsroller running in the straight portion of the groove 12. A furtherdownward move- Each plate has a similar spring ment of the plate willcause the lower bar 21 to move inward by reason of its roller moving inthe cam portion of the groove, and this movement will cause the lowerset of forks to turn and engage the strings, thereby shortening theirlength and sharping them; but this movement will not move the upper setof forks, as the roller of the bar 20 will move in the vertical portionof its groove, and upon the pedal being released the spring 15 willreturn the plate to its original position.

The rear wall of the sounding-board 2 has an opening 27, extendingaboutits length, and to each side of this opening are located wings 28,having a pivotal connection with the easing at its ends. To the innerfaces of each of these wings are secured felt strips 29. In thisinstance elastic bands 30 are employed to hold the wings separated, asshown at Fig. 3, and in order to close them a treadle 31 is employed towhich cables 32 are connected, their other ends connected to the wings.Grooved faced rollers are located in the path of the cables and receivethem. By a depression of the treadle the wings are brought together attheir free ends, as shown at Fig. 2, against the action of the elasticbands, and upon releasing the treadle the springs will separate thewings. The sound will be louder when the wings are separated, and theymay be held separated any distance with the range of their movements.

The arrangement shown in the drawings is for a double action, while onlyone set of forks may be employed, thereby producing a single action.

lVhat is claimed as the invention is- 1. In a harp, the combination ofthe head portion, a series of forks acting upon the strings to changetheir pitch, a vertically-movable plate guided in suitable supports,said plate provided with a cam-groove extending in its lengthwisedirection, a connection between the forks and plate, whereby a movementmay be imparted to the connection at substantially right angles to theplate by means of a connection with the cam-groove.

2. In a harp, the combination of a head portion,two series of forksacting upon the strings to change their pitch, a vertically-movableplate guided in suitable supports, said plate provided with twocam-grooves extending in its lengthwise direction a connection betweeneach series of forks and its cam-groove, whereby a movement may beimparted to the connection at substantially right angles to the plate bymeans of a connection with the camgrooves.

3. In a harp, the combination of a sounding-board, an opening thereinextending in its lengthwise direction, two wings, one at each side ofthe opening and closing together at the center,and means for moving thewin gs.

HANNAH E. \VYDMAN. Admin snailix of the estate of August lVg (Z- mcm,deceased.

Witnesses:

A. O. BEHEL, E. BEHEL.

